Caron Butler scored 29 points to lift the Clippers past Utah for the third time in December

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The Clippers ran their franchise-best win streak to 17 games Sunday night with a win over the Utah Jazz that capped an undefeated December for the team with the NBA's best record.

The Clippers (25-6) went 16-0 in December, joining the 1971-72 LA Lakers and 1995-96 San Antonio Spurs as the third team in NBA history to go undefeated in a month. That Lakers team went on to set the league's longest win streak -- 33 games.

The Clippers have not lost since Nov. 26, but open the new year with a tough road test Tuesday at Denver. The Nuggets are 9-1 at home.

"We're going to lose at some point, but this is a magical run,'' Clipper Caron Butler, who had 29 points in a 107-96 victory over the Utah Jazz on Sunday, told the Associated Press.

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LA travels to Golden State Wednesday before returning home Friday to play the Lakers. The Clippers defeated the Lakers earlier this year.

On Sunday night, Jamal Crawford sparked LA's 10-5 run to open the fourth quarter. He hit a 3-point and pull-up jumper that gave the Clippers an 89-81 lead.

The Jazz, who lost to LA three times in December, narrowed the gap to four points, but LA hit 9 of 10 free throws to close out Utah. DeAndre Jordan, a career 44-percent free throw shooter, was six for eight from the foul line.

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"It's a tribute to everybody in here,'' Clipper Blake Griffin said. "Everybody has been a huge part one night or the other. It's a selfless attitude the team has taken on. This is the most fun I've ever had playing basketball.''